Method of making roller tups for fishing rods

ABSTRACT

The roller tip comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed and bent into parallel frame sides which are flanged to prevent wear on the line. Each frame side is integral with a semitubular sleeve side portion, and such side portions are connected to each other at upper and lower seams in order to form a sleeve adapted to receive the tip of a fishing rod. A roller is rotatably mounted between the frame sides, by means of axle means extending perpendicularly to such sides. The frame sides are integral with opposite ends of a bridge disposed above the roller and preventing the line from leaving the roller tip, such bridge being so constructed that the portion thereof lying in a medial plane between said frame sides is generally parallel to a tangent to the roller, such tangent intersecting an extended axis of the sleeve on the opposite side of the axle means from such sleeve. In accordance with the method of the invention, a single piece of sheet metal is formed into two elongated legs, two frame sides and a bridge, and each leg is caused to lie at an acute angle to a medial line. The legs are formed into semitubular sleeve sides, the frame sides are flanged and pierced, and the bridge is so bent that the frame sides are parallel to each other and the sleeve sides are caused to meet at their edges for securing together as by soldering.

United States Patent lmmenroth et al.

[ METHOD OF MAKING ROLLER TUPS FOR FISHING RODS [72] Inventors: Otto Immenroth, La Habra; Robert C. Eschbach, Newport Beach, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Axelson Fishing Tackle Mfg. Co.,

. Newport Beach, Calif.

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 184,443

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 44,085, June 8, 1970.

[52] US. Cl ..29/434, 29/150, 113/116 HH [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 87/04 [58] Field ofSearch 113/116 R, 116 F, 116 UT, 116V, 113/116 HH; 29/l59,434,l50; 43/24 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,801 12/1935 Conner ..29/l50 2,525,948 10/1950 Ruiz ..43/24 3,006,099 10/1961 Gourley, Jr ..43/24 3,058,255 10/1962 Gorham ..43/24 3,091,201 5/1963 Gourley, Jr. ..l13/l16 R [is] 3,691,616 51 Sept. 19, 1972 Primary ExaminerRichard J. llerbst Attorney-Richard L. Gausewitz et al.

[ 1 ABSTRACT The roller tip comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed and bent into parallel frame sides which are flanged to prevent wear on the line. Each frame side is integral with a semitubular sleeve side portion, and such side portions are connected to each other at upper and lower seams in order to form a .sleeve adapted to receive the tip of a fishing rod. A roller is rotatably mounted between the frame sides, by means of axle means extending perpendicularly to such sides. The frame sides are integral with opposite ends of a bridge disposed above the roller and preventing the line from leaving the roller tip, such bridge being so constructed that the portion thereof lying in a medial plane between said frame sides is generally parallel to a tangent to the roller, such tangent intersecting an extended axis of the sleeve on the opposite side of the axle means from such sleeve. In accordance with the method of the invention, a single piece of sheet metal is formed into two elongated legs, two frame sides and a bridge, and each leg is caused to lie at an acute angle to a medial line. The legs are formed into semitubular sleeve sides, the frame sides are flanged and pierced, and the bridge is so bent that the frame sides are parallel to each other and the sleeve sides are caused to meet at their edges for securing together as by soldering.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures P'ATENTEDsEP 19 ran SHEET 2 BF 3 z n ig. m -EZ H a WMM W 5 N0 N E? P WW5 m I 4 m w lll'llu: I] I f I'll METHOD OF MAKING ROLLER TUPS FOR FISHING RODS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of patent application Ser. No. 44,085, filed June 8, 1970, for Roller Tip for Fishing Rods, and Method of Making the Same, inventors Otto lmmenroth and Robert C. Eschbach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of roller tips for fishing rods, primarily saltwater fishing rods but also including freshwater fishing rods.

2. Description of Prior Art Prior-art roller tips for fishing rods have been characterized by one or both of the following important disadvantages: (lhigh cost or (b) low quality. An example of the high-quality but high-cost roller tip is shown in Pat. No. 3,006,099. One of the major reasons for the high cost of this tip is that the frame must be connected to a sleeve which is formed as a separate deep-drawn part. Not only does the cost of the sleeve greatly increase the cost of the product, but thesleeve and the frame must be connected to each other by a laborious and expensive soldering operation.

Several other examples of prior-art roller tips are shown in US. Pat. Nos. Des. 101,236 and 3,058,255.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the method of the invention, a single piece of sheet metal lying in a single plane is formed into two elongated legs, two frame sides and one bridge. One leg lies at an acute angle to a medial line extending between the legs and in the plane, whereas the other leg' lies at the same acute angle relative to such medial line. The method further comprises forming the legs into semitubular elongated sleeve sides, flanging and piercing the frame sides, and bending the bridge until the frame sides are generally parallel to each other and until the edges of the sleeve sides are opposite each other. The method additionally comprises forming upper and lower joints between the opposed edges of the sleeve sides, thus creating a tubular sleeve adapted to fit over the tip of a fishing rod. A roller is mounted between the frame sides on axle means which extends throgh pierced openings therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single piece of sheet metal formed into a blank for two elongated legs, two frame sides and a bridge;

FIG. la is a plan view of such piece of sheet metal;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 but showing the legs partially formed into semitubular sides;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view illustrating the legs fully formed into semitubular sleeve sides;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a flange formed on edges of the frame sides and on one edge of the bridge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the integral frame and sleeve sides after bending of the bridge;

FIG. 5 is an end view looking at the leftend in FIG. 4, but showing the upper and lower seams which connect the sleeve sides to form a single tubular sleeve,.and also showing the roller in mounted condition;

FIG. 6 illustrates the completed roller tip as mounted on the end of a fishing rod;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and illustrating the mounting of the roller between the frame sides;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the roller tip;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view thereof; and

FIG. 11 is an end view of the roller tip as viewed from the right in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the method of the invention is described below as comprising a series of distinct steps performed relative to a previously formed blank, it is to be understood that for high production the method should be performed in a progressive die wherein the blank is not completely separated from the surrounding sheet-metal stock until a final step in the forming method. Instead, the blank is held by means of tabs or ears which are associated with the stock and serve (along with position ing pins extended through openings in the blank) to maintain the same in the proper position prior to each forming step.

FIG. 1 illustrates a one-piece sheet-metal blank having legs 10, frame sides 1 I and a bridge 12. The blank is preferably formed of stainless steel. The legs 10, frame sides 11 and bridge 12 all lie in a single plane.

Referring particularly to FIG. la, it is highly impor tant to the invention that the legs 10 (at this stage of the method) are not parallel or nearly parallel to each other, but instead diverge (in a direction away from the frame sides) at a wide angle relative to each other. Thus, each leg 10 lies at an acute angle 0 relative to a medial line which is indicated at I3 and which lies in the plane of the blank. Such line 13 intersects two lines 14 and 15 at an intersection point 16, such lines 14 and 15 being, respectively, medial lines in each of the legs The medial line 13 lies at the same acute angle rela tive to each of lines 14 and 15. For example, the angle between lines 14 and 15 may be approximately 73, so that the acute angle between line 13 and each of lines 14 and 15 may be approximately 36 or 37. Such angle should be in the range of about 30 to about 45.

Also as shown in FIG. la, the bridge 12 extends generally perpendicularly to the medial line 13. The medial line in the bridge 12 is represented at 17. The bridge is connected to each frame side at a region opposite the connection of the associated leg to such frame side.

It is emphasized that the legs 10 are relatively long, sufficiently long that. the tubular sleeve formed thereby will mount securely over the tip of a fishing rod as described hereinafter. Although such legs 10 are long,

the fact that the legs lie at major angles relative to each other permits nesting of the blanks in the die so that there is much less scrap sheet metal than would result if the legs were parallel or generally parallel to each other.

Each leg 10 has edges 18 which converge gradually in a direction toward the associated frame side 11. Thus, the resulting tubular sleeve: (which fits over the rod tip) is not perfectly cylindrical but instead is frustoconical.

As the next step in the method, and as shown in FIG. 2, the edges 18 and the regions between the same are bent upwardly as illustrated. This performing step rela' tive to the legs permits a subsequent forming step full semi-tubular shape. Thus, when the blank is so bent that the edges 18 on one of the legs 10 are respectively adjacent the edges 18 of the other leg, a full-tubular configuration will result.

In accordance with the next step in the method, and as shown in FIG. 3, a flange 21 is provided along one edge of each of frame sides 11 and along the corresponding edge of bridge 12. The obtuse angle formed between the flange and each frame side may be, for example,. about 60 (FIG. 8). Flange 21 is located on the edges which are remote from legs 10, that is to say, on the edges which are relatively adjacent the intersection point 16 (FIG. la). Such edges are generally convex, each convex curve starting at a notch 19 and continuing around to one end of bridge 12 (which has straight edges). The remaining edges of the frame sides are straight, as indicated at 22.

The flange 21 is so formed that it bends in the opposite direction from the edges 18 of legs 10. Thus, the edges 18 are formed upwardly (as indicated by FIGS. 2 and 2a), whereas the flange 21 is formed downwardly as indicated in FIG. 3. The ends of the flange 21 taper to very narrow regions adjacent notches 19.

The convex edges of frame sides 11, which are flanged as shown at 21, have center points or areas at or adjacent which are located holes 23. Such holes are formed in the blank at a suitable step in the manufacturing process, and serve to receive screws forming parts of the axle means for the roller.

Referring next to FIG. 4, the next step in the method comprises bending the bridge 12 about an axis which is substantially parallel to medial line 13 (FIG. la in order to cause the frame sides 11 to be substantially parallel to each other, and in order to cause the edges 18 of legs 10 to be respectively opposite each other. The direction of bending is such that end portions of flange 21 extend away from each other, and edges 18 extend toward each other. During such bending operation, suitable die means are used to maintain at the indicated angle (FIG. 7) that portion of flange 21 which is formed on the edge of bridge 12.

Because of the fact that bending is effected about an axis parallel to media] line 13, there is little or no stretching of the metal as a result of the described bending operation. This is an important consideration since, in order to achieve economy of production, the gauge of the metal forming the blank illustrated in FIG. 1 is not made thicker than is required for the strength of the finished roller tip.

Referring next to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, the next step in the method comprises forming upper and lower scams or joints 25 between the edges 18 which are disposed opposite each other. Such joints are preferably formed by silver soldering or by brazing. Formation of such joints creates, as indicated above, the tubular sleeve S (elongated and frustoconical) adapted to fit over the tip of a fishing rod, such tip being represented at 24. Mounting of the tubular sleeve S on tip 24 may be effected in numerous ways, for example by means of epoxy resin, but does not take place until after completion of manufacturing of the roller tip as described below.

The roller tip is completed (after suitable deburring, chrome plating, etc.) by inserting a roller (sheave) 27 between the frame sides 11 as shown in FIG. 8. Such roller is preferably formed of stainless steel and has a V-sectioned groove 28 in the peripheral region thereof. The roller is rotatably mounted upon a bearing or bushing 29, and such bushing in turn is mounted on a hollow pin 30 having a screw head 32. Pin 30 is inserted through one of openings 23, and is internally threaded to receive the shank of a screw 34 inserted through the other opening 23 and having a head 35. The roller also may be mounted is position by means of the doublescrew construction shown and described in the abovecited US. Pat. No. 3,058,255.

The tolerances between the radial faces of roller 27 and the adjacent inner surfaces of frame sides 11 are small. Therefore, and also because of the V-shaped section of the groove 28, the fishing line does not move out of the groove and become inserted between the roller and the frame.

The product resulting from the above method, namely, the apparatus of the present invention, is a roller tip for fishing rods as shown in FIGS. 6 et seq., and which has a one-piece sheet-metal frame which is integral with the tubular sleeve formed by legs 10.

The finished roller tip may best be described relative to a medial (central) plane, namely, the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 8, which line indicates the plane of the showing of FIG. 7. One half of the tubular sleeve S is located on each side of such medial plane, and the semitubular sleeve portions (formed by bending the legs l0) are joined along such medial plane by the upper and lower seams 25 (FIGS. 5, 9 and 10) of solder or the like. The two frame sides 11 are disposed on opposite sides of the medial plane, and are respectively integral with the semitubular sleeve portions on opposite sides of such plane. The roller 27 is mounted rotatably between the frame sides 11, on axle means (FIG. 8) which are perpendicular to the indicated plane. The bridge 12 connects the frame sides integrally, and extends through the plane.

Referring to FIG. 7, the main body of the bridge portion which is disposed in the indicated plane, that is to say, the portion of bridge 12 other than the flange 21 thereon, is generally parallel to a tangent 36 to the roller 27, which such tangent 36 intersecting the extended axis 37 of sleeve S on the opposite side of the axle means from such sleeve. The intersection point between tangent 36 and the extended axis 37 of sleeve S is indicated at 38 in FIG. 7.

Stated more specifically, the bridge section (other than flange 21) in the medial plane is substantially coincident with a straight line 36a in such medial plane, which line intersects the extended sleeve axis 37 on the opposite side of the axle means from the tubular sleeve. The point of intersection is indicated at 39.

The tangent 36 is perpendicular to a radius of roller 27, which radius passes through the bridge 12. The radius is shown at 41.

Flange 21 (FIG. 7) inclines upwardly relative to tangent line 36, at the specified medial plane.

Tangent 36 and line 36a lie at an acute angle, relative to the sleeve axis 37, which is in the range of about 28 to about 46. Preferably, such'angle is on the order of about 37.

As shown in FIG. 7, the axle means for roller 27 is disposed somewhat above the extended axis 37 of the tubular sleeve.

The flanges 21 on the frame sides and on the corresponding forward edge of bridge 12 flare outwardly away from the space between the frame sides and which contains roller 27. Thus, the outer edges of the flanges are-normally not in contact with a line passed over the roller, so that wear on the line is maintained at a minimum.

The fishing line portion which passes (bends) over roller or sheave 27 is generally parallel to the bridge section adjacent thereto. The relationship is such that the fishing line will not engage either extreme edge of the bridge 12 (including the flange portion 21), even when the line leaves the roller as, for example, during casting of a bait. Thus, wear on the line is again minimized.

All of the metal-forming steps described in the method portion of this specification are performed by means of suitable dies, the contours and curvatures of such dies corresponding to the shapes of the parts formed thereby.

The word integral is used in this specification and claims to mean formed of a single piece of sheet metal, without any welds, connections or other bonds or joints.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of manufacturing a roller tip for fishing rods, which comprises:

providing two corresponding and elongated legs formed of sheet metal and lying at an acute angle to a medial line,

the cute angle of one of said legs relative to said medial line being the same as the acute angle of the other of said legs relative to said medial line,

causing said legs to be integrally connected to each other by two corresponding frame sides and by an integral bridge extending between said frame sides,

said legs, frame sides and bridge being parts of a single piece of sheet metal and thus integral with each other,

said legs diverging relative to each other in a direction away from said frame sides, said bridge being on the opposite edges of said frame sides from said legs, forming said legs into semitubular elongated sleeve sides adapted when connected to each other to from a tubular sleeve, bending said bridge until the edges of said sleeve sides are opposed relative to each other, forming first and second seams or oints between said opposed edges of said sleeve sides to thus create an elongated tubular sleeve adapted to fit over the tip of a fishing rod, and

rotatably mounting a roller between said frame sides for rotation about an axis extending through said frame sides.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises bending edge portions of said frame sides to from flanges thereon, said bending being performed prior to said bending of said bridge, the direction of said flange bending being opposite to the direction of bending of the edges of said legs during said forming thereof.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said method further comprises effecting said flange bending subsequently to said forming of said legs into semitubular sleeve sides.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises causing said acute angle of each of said legs relative to said medial line to be in the range of about 30 to about 45 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which said method further comprises causing said acute angle to be in the range of about 36 to about 37.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said bridge, prior to said bending thereof, extends generally perpendicularly to said medial line.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises causing said legs, frame sides and bridge to lie in a single plane prior to said bending step.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises effecting said bending of said bridge about an axis substantially parallel to said medial line.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises bending adjacent corresponding edges of both of said frame sides and said bridge to form flanges thereon, said flange bending being performed prior to said bending of said bridge and subsequent to said forming of said legs into semitubular sleeve sides, the direction of said bending of said flanges being opposite to the direction of bending of the edges of said legs during said forming thereof, and in which said method further comprises maintaining the flange portion on said bridge at an obtuse angle to the main body of said bridge during said bending of said bridge.

2 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3.691.616 Dated September 19, 1972 Inv Otto Immenroth. Robert C. Eschbach It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the cover page, in the title, "TUPS" should read TIPS Column 1, in the title, "TUPS" should read TIPS Column 5, line 48, "cute" should read acute Signed ahd sealed this 13th of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER;JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A method of manufacturing a roller tip for fishing rods, which comprises: providing two corresponding and elongated legs formed of sheet metal and lying at an acute angle to a medial line, the cute angle of one of said legs relative to said medial line being the same as the acute angle of the other of said legs relative to said medial line, causing said legs to be integrally connected to each other by two corresponding frame sides and by an integral bridge extending between said frame sides, said legs, frame sides and bridge being parts of a single piece of sheet metal and thus integral with each other, said legs diverging relative to each other in a direction away from said frame sides, said bridge being on the opposite edges of said frame sides from said legs, forming said legs into semitubular elongated sleeve sides adapted when connected to each other to from a tubular sleeve, bending said bridge until the edges of said sleeve sides are opposed relative to each other, forming first and second seams or joints between said opposed edges of said sleeve sides to thus create an elongated tubular sleeve adapted to fit over the tip of a fishing rod, and rotatably mounting a roller between said frame sides for rotation about an axis extending through said frame sides.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises bending edge portions of said frame sides to from flanges thereon, said bending being performed prior to said bending of said bridge, the direction of said flange bending being opposite to the direction of bending of the edges of said legs during said forming thereof.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said method further comprises effecting said flange bending subsequently to said forming of said legs into semitubular sleeve sides.
 4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises causing said acute angle of each of said legs relative to said medial line to be in the range of about 30* to about 45*
 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which said method further comprises causing said acute angle to be in the range of about 36* to about 37*.
 6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said bridge, prior to said bending thereof, extends generally perpendicularly to said medial line.
 7. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises causing said legs, frame sides and bridge to lie in a single plane prior to said bending step.
 8. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises effecting said bending of said bridge about an axis substantially parallel to said medial line.
 9. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said method further comprises bending adjacent corresponding edges of both of said frame sides and said bridge to form flanges thereon, said flange bending being performed prior to said bending of said bridge and subsequent to said forming of said legs into semitubular sleeve sides, the direction of said bending of said flanges being opposite to the direction of bending of the edges of said legs during said forming thereof, and in which said method further comprises maintaining the flange portion on said bridge at an obtuse angle to the main body of said bridge during said bending of said bridge. 